Justin Trudeau gets down to business in Whitby

Liberal leader tours downtown to hear from local business owners

Justin Trudeau gets down to business in Whitby

Justin Trudeau, leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, visited the Whitby Chamber of Commerce before he and Whitby-Oshawa Liberal candidate Celina Caesar-Chavanne visited some of the downtown businesses. August 12, 2014

Justin Trudeau

Sabrina Byrnes / Metroland

WHITBY -- Barb Taylor, centre, a customer at Lafontaine, had her picture taken with Justin Trudeau, leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, and Whitby-Oshawa Liberal candidate Celina Caesar-Chavanne. The Liberal leader visited some of the dowtown businesses. August 12, 2014

Justin Trudeau

Sabrina Byrnes / Metroland

WHITBY -- Justin Trudeau, leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, visited the Whitby Chamber of Commerce before he and Whitby-Oshawa Liberal candidate Celina Caesar-Chavanne visited some of the dowtown businesses. August 12, 2014

Justin Trudeau visits Whitby

Sabrina Byrnes / Metroland

WHITBY -- Justin Trudeau, leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, and Whitby-Oshawa Liberal candidate Celina Caesar-Chavanne, waved to someone through a store window, while they walked through downtown Whitby. The Liberal leader visited some of the dowtown businesses. August 12, 2014

Justin Trudeau

Sabrina Byrnes / Metroland

WHITBY -- Justin Trudeau, leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, greeted Donna Gleeson, left, at Van Belle Flowers in Whitby as he visited some of the dowtown businesses. The Liberal leader was in town visiting the Whitby-Oshawa Liberal candidate Celina Caesar-Chavannes, who guided him through the downtown. August 12, 2014

Justin Trudeau

Sabrina Byrnes / Metroland

WHITBY -- Justin Trudeau, leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, greeted Donna Gleeson at Van Belle Flowers, as he visited some of the dowtown businesses. The Liberal leader was in town visiting the Whitby-Oshawa Liberal candidate Celina Caesar-Chavannes, who guided him through the downtown. August 12, 2014

Justin Trudeau

Sabrina Byrnes / Metroland

WHITBY -- Justin Trudeau, leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, and Whitby-Oshawa Liberal candidate Celina Caesar-Chavanne walked through the downtown as the Liberal leader visited some Whitby businesses. August 12, 2014

Justin Trudeau

Sabrina Byrnes / Metroland

WHITBY -- Barb Taylor, centre, a customer at Lafontaine, had her picture taken with Justin Trudeau, leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, and Whitby-Oshawa Liberal candidate Celina Caesar-Chavanne. The Liberal leader visited some of the dowtown businesses. August 12, 2014

Justin Trudeau

Sabrina Byrnes / Metroland

WHITBY -- Whitby-Oshawa Liberal candidate Celina Caesar-Chavanne and Justin Trudeau, leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, chatted with Theresa Streahorn from Frame by Design as the Liberal leader visited some of the dowtown businesses. August 12, 2014

Mr. Trudeau, beaming as he chatted with local staff and customers at the various stops, kicked off his downtown tour at the Whitby Chamber of Commerce.

“This is what I’ve been doing across the country, getting out, meeting with community leaders and businesses, trying to understand the challenges that every different region is facing,” he said.

While noticing some common themes throughout Canada -- mostly centred on economic concerns -- he said he recognizes every community has its own unique challenges.

“You can only really understand that when you’re meeting with people and hearing their concerns.”

Theresa Streahorn, owner of Frame By Design at 116 Brock St. S., discussed the importance of supporting small businesses with Mr. Trudeau when he dropped by her store.

“I was impressed by him,” she said. “He seems pretty sincere.”

Ms. Streahorn said she’d like to see the federal government introduce more tax breaks for small business and create more local job opportunities.

“I want to see more jobs created so that people can afford the little luxuries because my business is not a priority,” she said.

“People have to buy food and pay for insurance and hydro; those are the basic necessities and if they keep hiking all these other bills up, nobody is going to have money for those little extras.”

Joining Mr. Trudeau on the tour was Whitby-Oshawa federal Liberal candidate Celina Caesar-Chavannes. Last month, the Whitby—Oshawa Federal Liberal Association nominated Ms. Caesar-Chavannes to represent the Liberal Party of Canada in the still-undeclared federal byelection in Whitby—Oshawa.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper must set a date to fill the seat -- left vacant when Conservative MP Jim Flaherty died suddenly from a heart attack in April -- by late October.

Mr. Trudeau recalled Mr. Flaherty’s dedication to the community as he addressed members of the Whitby Chamber.

“He was someone who was respected and thought very highly of across all political lines,” he said, adding the Liberals hope to ensure Whitby-Oshawa continues to be well represented federally.

“(Ms. Caesar-Chavannes) is a business woman deeply anchored in this community, a family woman as well, and exactly the kind of strong voice we hope to provide for people in this community in Ottawa.”

A mother of three, Ms. Caesar-Chavannes is president of ReSolve Research Solutions Inc., a company she founded in 2004. She was named the Toronto Board of Trade’s Business Entrepreneur of the Year in 2012 and works with a variety of private, government, and non-government organizations.

“I think it’s really important as the local candidate for people to be able to be engaged and know who I am so it was about becoming familiar with (me) and Justin obviously brings some star power to that,” said Ms. Caesar-Chavannes on the pair’s visit to downtown Whitby.

Speaking to local business owners face to face also provided valuable insight into their needs and wants, she said.

“Walking down the street, stopping into businesses at least allows them an opportunity to say, ‘Yes, I had my voice heard somewhere along this election campaign,’” she said.

“That’s hugely important because at the end of the day, the policies that we make, the platform that we eventually develop is going to impact these people.”